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Friday, June 29, 2012

It looks familiar, but this time with scripture.
The best quality will be from this link. Go to file on the left hand side of the screen. Download it to your computer and then print! It's centered to fit an 8x10 frame, but will print out on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper.

I love how Galations 5:13 can relate our celebration of Independence Day to
our calling to honor our freedom in Christ by loving and serving others.

Enjoy and Happy almost July!
And check back in next week for more surprises inspired by http://www.thebdayproject.com
xoxo -Jackie

Thursday, June 28, 2012

I have always loved this holiday.
The tradition, the celebration of independence.
The kick off of summer with hot dogs and watermelon and lots of red, white, and blue.

But I also love it because it's the day before my birthday.
And as a child my parents told me the fireworks were to celebrate me too.

And so the 4th of July has always been filled with anticipation.
It feels like a New Year's Eve of sorts for me.
A chance to evaluate the year and set goals for the one ahead.

And this year I was so inspired by this blog post and this movement to join in on the Birthday Project.

So I will be doing 40 acts of kindness in honor of my birthday.

I thought it would be an awesome way to share with my kids how much more fun it is to give than receive. And I thought it would be a memorable way to ring in this new decade.

I'm going to be realistic and am listening to the advice of loved ones to not try to do this all in one day. But this weekend I'll be prepping things to begin our acts of kindness next Monday through Thursday.

And celebrating with me, friends and family will be doing an act of kindness in honor of my birthday. If you'd like to join in too...feel free. The more the merrier. If you happen to get a picture of the act send it to me at willowofwonder@gmail.com and I'll include you in an upcoming post sharing all the kindness.

But today I'm sneaking in an act of kindness early for you.
It's a July desktop wallpaper. With a girl reminiscent of the childhood me doing something I always loved, playing with sparklers.

You can click on the picture and then right click to save it as your desktop picture. But if that doesn't work, you can also download it by this link on google docs.

If you don't know how to save it from there, go to FILE (it's on the top left hand side of the screen) and then click download. Save it on your desktop. Some computers will then allow you to right click to save as your wallpaper. If not go to your system preferences, then click the icon for desktop/screensaver and select the image. Then it should appear as your wallpaper.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

of the morning is always so inspiring to me.
So new, full of promise. So quiet and so reflective.

Sometimes, this light that streams in my dining room is stronger.
More vibrant. This morning it reminded me of other mornings where the Lord used it very specifically to bring me hope. Just when I needed it.
And I suspect, my eye being drawn to it this morning, was no exception.

Just yesterday my five year old, after vacation bible school announced
that God speaks to people. It opened up the conversation about how God is always talking to all of us.
IF we just have eyes and ears to hear.

How a beautiful bird, or fluttering butterfly, or the glorious layers of colors on the mountains, and shades of light are God's artwork showing us he loves us.
And sometimes God uses those things to speak to our heart just when we need to feel His love.

So this morning I rise early, unable to sleep after my seven year old has finally gone back to bed after waking me in the wee hours.

She has hit another wall with her learning.
And with that comes tears and stress and waking in the night.
And this morning light, well it reminds me of this...

"weeping may last through the night,

but joy comes in the morning."

Psalm 30:5

I completely know this isn't the heaviest of trials. With her dyslexia and other learning challenges,
I just so badly want her to cross through this challenge and find some success.
To know that she can do it so that she can believe in herself.

Yesterday was a rough one for her.

And I am reminded how very much these little ones in our care, how we
are teaching them always. And every challenge is a chance to breathe life
into them that it's ok to stumble. We all do. But it's the trying again that
matters. And that mom and dad and God are all here. She's not alone.

And I remind her of how she was afraid to dive in the pool.
She thought she couldn't do it, but then she did.

Or how riding a bike is hard at first, but then all of a sudden you can do it.

It's the same way. This is hard right now, but practicing it. Little by little
one day it will be easier.

"Remember Dory in Nemo?" I tell her. Remember how she said, "Just keep swimming?"
Don't you think all those fish trying to swim free from the net found it really hard.
But they had to tell themselves to just keep swimming until they could break free.
"I know you're working so hard. And I'm so proud of you. I want you to think of those fish when it gets hard, and just keep trying.
Soon you will break free."

Right now she's wanting to shut down. She's filled with "I can't" thoughts that bring lots of emotion.
But I know that the Lord is walking with her and He will let her break through to the other side of reading success.

I look forward to seeing that moment. I'm praying for it for her. And I'm confident in the midst of these struggles that the Lord is using them for her, for me as a mom. To strengthen both of us and in the mean time I'm patiently waiting, knowing that when the growth springs forth, how beautiful that day will be.

"And (s)he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain."

2 Samuel 23:4

July is a special month for me. It's my birthday! And with that I have a couple of fun things to share, including a freebie.
So check back in with me.
I'll be sharing soon.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Happy Friday everyone.
Happy beginning of the weekend.
This sight, though not captured super well, was what I saw out my kitchen window as the sun was setting one night.
It took my breath away.

This bright, golden, streaking cross.
Calling out to me. Reminding me that He is here.
He is always here. Jesus sees me in the every day, in the struggles, in my doubts.

I've been deep in thought on so many things. It often feels like too much to explain and so I've been kind of quiet here.

I've been contemplating where I am and where I'm heading.
I haven't mentioned this yet..but in just about two weeks I'll be turning 40.
And it suddenly has made me very introspective about a lot.
Perhaps soon I'll unfold it all here.
I can be so very introspective and sentimental. I thought I felt strong about this birthday.
But suddenly I was hit by this wave of sadness over how fast the last decade has gone and how I guess it sort of felt like it would always be here. And then I wonder will this next decade be just as fast. A friend of mine about to turn 50 said it goes even faster. Why, oh why does the time speed up as we age?

I wonder if homeschooling will slow me down or cause the pace to feel more pressured. I'm praying it's the former. But sometimes I fear it's the latter. I have lots of unknowns of how it will all go, how I'll handle it all, balance it all. Oh that unreachable 'balance it all' place. Perhaps it's more about the letting go of balancing anything.

I do feel the Lord guiding my steps and so I'm faithfully trying to not over think. I'm practicing just being where I am today.

I've also been feeling an increase in fatigue and joint pain that can come with the heat for lupus patients. Sometimes I like to be in denial that I have it anymore. Especially when I feel good for awhile. But it seems all the go-go-go of our schedule at the end of the school year must have also taken a toll. So I'm falling asleep early a lot at night..which means not a lot of posts and not a lot of creating.

But my mind and soul are itching to put pen to paper. In my head I've drawn and painted and dreamed up much. But in my mind they remain for now.

I turn the energy I have over to making this a fun summer for my kids, with lots of swimming and entertaining friends. Tonight we surprised them and took them to see Brave.

This next week they have vacation bible school and I'll have a rare three hours each day where they're all in the same place at the same time and the house will be quiet.

I'm praying for renewed energy and I pray this finds you all well too!